Interlocking switch and signal



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. G. GIBBS.

INTERLOG-KING SWITCH AND SIGNAL.

No. 381,773. I PatentedApr. 24, 1888.

I I Hll 8 IN I 12416202907:

widow pays .3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

G.- GIBBS INTERLOCKING SWITCH AND SIGNAL.

QU O G N m w N. PETERS, Phnlo-Lilhagmphen wminmn, u. c.

T aZZ whom it may concern.-

. elevation of my invention, partly broken away.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE GIBBS, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

INTERLOCKIN'G SWITCH AND SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 381,773, dated April 2%, 1888.

Application filed January 13, 1888. Serial No. 260,609. (No model.)

Be it known that I, GEORGE GIBBs, of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee, and in the State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Interlocking Switches and Signals; and I dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates tointerlocking switches and signals; and it consists in certain peculi-- arities of construction and combination of parts, to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and subsequently claimed.

. In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side Fig. 2, a horizontal section on line 2 2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a vertical transverse section on line 3 3, Figs. 2 and 4.; Fig. 4, a plan view; Fig. 5,a detail view of a throw-rod for the switch, and Fig. 6 a similar view of an auxiliary rod. Figs. 7 and 8 are diagram views illustrating the open and closed positions of an ordinary split switch, a distant signal, and the operation of my invention.

Referring by letter to the drawings, A represents a switch-stand of ordinary construction, '13, the crank-rod for the switch; B, the target; G, the throw-rod; D, the notched table that forms part of said stand, and E the switchlever provided with a pivoted hand-piece, F, forengagement with certain of the notches in said table accordingly as said switch may be open or closed.

Surrounding the crank-rod B and forming the bearings therefor is a pipe-sleeve, G, the latter having a bearing, b, that depends from the table'D, and another bearing, b, that is made fast to the stand of which said table forms a part.

Fast on the'upper end of the pipe-sleeve G is a lever, H, provided with a pivoted handpiece, I, for engagement with certain notches in the table D, and keyed to the lower end of said pipe sleeve is a gear-wheel, J, for engagement with another gear-wheel, K, that is loose on a bolt, 0, passed through the short and long arms of a yoke, L, that forms the bifurcatedrear end of a rod, M, the forward end of the latter being bolted to the throw-rod O, and as a'matter of convenience the yoke L is prefergear-wheel and sheave, isextended in a downward direction to engage a longitudinal slot, 6, in therear section, 0, or that portion of the throw-rod O that is connected to the crankrod 13. I also show a bolt, f, that passes through the inner end of the long arm of the yoke L and engages the slot 6 in the adjacent end of the throw-rod C; but the latter bolt may be omitted and both arms of said yoke made the same length, if found more desirable.

Secured to the sheaveK, so as to wind thereon, is a cord or wire, P, that connects with a distant signal, the latter in this instance consisting of a pivotal arm, Q, that has attached thereto a counter-weight, R; but it is obvious that the counter weight may be omitted and the cord or wire arranged on said sheave to wind and unwind in opposite directions, and in the latter case both ends of said cord or wire would be united to the arm Q on opposite sides of its pivot.

I have shown one section of the throw-rod Gas provided with a goose-neck, 9; but instead of the gooseneck I may employ what is termed a spring-pocket or other flexible connection between the switch-bar S and the crank-rod B. Such connections are well known and form no essential part of my device; but,

the gear-wheels J K are in mesh, the cord or wire P wound on the sheave N to overcome the resistance of the counter-weight R, at-

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tached to the signal-arm Q, and the levers E H, respectively, in the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 7. Now, if it is desirable to throw the switch so as to connect the main track with a full lines, Fig. 8. The lever H being fast on to bring the gear-wheel K, carried by the latthe pipe-sleeve G, the gear-wheel J, keyed to the latter, is rotated by the movement of said lever and imparts motion to the gear-wheel K, thereby slackening the cord or wire P and permitting the counter-weight R to unwind said cord or wire from the sheave N and draw the pivoted signal-arm Q up to a horizontal position, as shown by dotted lines, Fig. 7, and full lines, Fig. 8, this position of said arm indicating danger.

The signal for danger having been displayed, the switch may be thrown, and by this movement the gearwheel K is brought out of mesh with the gear-wheel J, as shown by Fig. 8, and it is impossible to display the safetysignal until the switch has been brought back to its original position. lVhen the switch is thrown to bring it back to the position shown in Fig. 7, (its original position,) the gearwheel K is again brought into mesh with the one J; but unless the lever H is actuated the signal will still stand in the position to indicate danger, notwithstanding said switch is set for main track. The reverse movement of the lever H will cause the gear-wheel J to rotate and set in motion the one K in mesh therewith, thus causing the cord or wire I? to wind on the sheave N and draw the pivoted arm Q down to the position that indicates safety. In case a locomotive or car runs through the switch when the latter is set for main track and the distant signal displayed for safety, the flexible connection between said switch and the crank-rod B will yield and the rod M will be drawn toward the track ter rod, out of mesh with the gear-wheel J on the pipe-sleeve G, thereby slackening the cord or wire P and permitting the weight R to antomatically bring the pivoted arm Q to the position that indicates danger. When the operation just described takes place, the bolts of move in the slotted rear section, 0', of the throw-rod C, but at no other time.

In case a locomotive or car runs through the switch when the latter is set for side track and the distant-signal displayed for danger, the flexible connection above mentioned will yield; but said signal will still remain in the position named to caution an approaching train.

' While I prefer to arrange the gear-wheel K as shown and described, it is obvious that the same may have its spindle attached direct to ally obstructed by a locomotive or car running through said switch, the distant signal will indicate danger.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a switch, throwrod, and distant signal, of a main gear-wheel, another gear-wheel carried by the throw-rod to come in and out of mesh with the main one, anda cord,wire, or analogous means connected to the signal and arranged to be actuated by a rotation of the gear-wheels, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a switch, throwrod, and distant signal, ofa main gear-wheel, another gear-wheel carried by the throw-rod to come in and out of mesh with the main one, a sheave or analogous device arranged to be actuated by a rotation of said gear-wheels, and acord, wire, or analogous means connecting the sheave and signal, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a switch, throwrod, and distant signal, of a main gear-wheel,

another gear-wheel carried by the throw-rod to come in and out of mesh with the main one, a sheave fast to the gear-wheel on said throwrod, a cord, wire, or analogous means connecting the sheave and signal, and suitable mechanismfor actuating said main gear-wheel, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination,with aswitch, a flexible throw-rod longitudinally slotted at its rear end, and a distant signal,of a main gear-wheel, an auxiliary rod bolted to the throw-rod and bifurcated at its rear end, a spindle passed through the bifurcations of the'auxiliary rod and extended down into the slot ofsaid throwrod, a gear-wheel arranged on the spindle, a sheave or analogous device also arranged on said spindle adjacent to the latter gear-wheel, a cord, wire, or analogous means connecting the sheave and signal, and a suitable mechanism for actuating said main gear-wheel, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with a switch, crankrod, throw-rod, and distant signal, ofa pipesleeve surrounding the crank-rod,a gear-wheel fast on the pipesleeve, another gear-wheel carried by'the throw-rod to come in and out of mesh with the one on said pipe-sleeve, a sheave adjacentto thelatter gear-wheel,acord, wire, or analogous means connecting the sheave and signal, and levers for actuating said crank-rod and pipe-sleeve, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with a switch, throwrod, crank-rod, and distant signal, of a main gear-wheel, a lever mechanism for actuating the gear-wheel, another gear-wheel carried by In testimony that I claim the foregoing I the throw-rod to come in and out of mesh with have hereunto set my hand, at Milwaukee, in the main one, a c0rd,wire, or analogous means the county of Milwaukee and Stateof Wisconconnected to .the signal and arranged to be sin, in the presence of two witnesses. 5 actuated by a rotation of the gear-Wheels, and I a a lever connected to the crank-rod to come in GEO. GIBBS. the path of the lever for actuating the main gear-wheel, whereby the interference of said Witnesses: levers compels a proper relative position of H. G. UNDERWOOD,

IO theswitchand signal, substantiallyasset forth. N. E. OLIPHANT. 

